Sign flasher



Dec. 18, 1934. l, NACHUMSOHN SIGN FLASHER Filed Feb. 25, 1929 Ill i furnished over one or more circuits, is'- distributed Patented Dec. 18, 1934 SHGN lFLSHER Irving( Nachumsohn, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Naxon Corporation, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Application February 23, 1929, Serial No. 342,144

11 Claims.

My invention relates to the improvements in sign flashers and the method of distribution of electrical energy and more particularlyA to such types of devices and systems in which electricity,

or controlled in a plurality of other circuits.

One object of my invention i's to provide a device of the character described having a mainl electrical circuit and a plurality of branch or associate circuits with means other tharrconventional switching mechanisms for selectively or sequentially associating the main circuit with said branch circuits.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sign flasher yor similar apparatus in which the usual multiplicity of electrical contacts is eliminated.

Another object of my invention is to provide a transformer having a primary winding and a plurality of secondary windings with means for associating the primary with said secondaries in predetermined Order.

A further object of my invention is to provide a distributor for electrical signalling systems and the like, as hereinafter more specifically referred to.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a sign flasher for producing so-called chaser and speller effects, an arrangement for producing the former being described in my co-pending application Serial No. 289,586, entitled Sign which has matured into Patent No. 1,913,504 granted June 13, 1933. In such effects referred to, especially where the sign is illuminated by ionization in gas discharge tubes, transformers are usually required in connection with the tubes. In addition a mechanical flasher is used in con= nection with the transformers in order to illuminate the tubes in predetermined order. In this aspect a still further object and advantage of my invention will become manifest from the following description, since I have combined into a single unit means for accomplishing the purposes of both transformers and asher, in a comparatively simple manner.

Other and further objects will appear as the` vation showing a modified arrangement of the windings and cores; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a modified circuit arrangement for the windings; and Fig. 6 is a view of a modified core of the type shown in Fig. 4.

In carrying out my invention I employ electrical circuits comprising Vwindings and ferromagnetic circuits comprising laminated cores, the latter being constructed in a similar manner to which ordinary transformer cores are made.' In one form the invention utilizes a primary winding and a plurality of associate secondary windings. The primary is in connection with a source of alternating current and-the secondaries, in the instance where the improvement is used as a sign flasher, are in respective connection with the various circuits of the sign.

To effect the selective operation of the various sign circuits, as in the production of moving eiIects or the progressive illumination of letters or words, I eliminate entirely the multiplicity of mechanically operated switches commonly employed in such devices, by making and breaking the magnetic instead of the electric circuits. With this arrangement the usual disadvantage of arcing contacts is entirely dispensed with. Since magnetic circuits can be designed to include air gaps, actual contact, as with electrical-contact ashers, between the stationary and the moving parts is also eliminated and as a consequence the attendant noise and wear are not present.

In addition to these advantages, by designing the primary windingto operate directly across a supply line or other source of alternating current and the respective secondaries to deliver a relatively high voltage, in, the order of 2,000 to 20,000 volts, for example, the improvement can be used to flash rareed gas or vapor tube signs at present requiringthese high voltages, without encountering the problem of making and breaking these relatively high voltages or with the elimination of the complicated wiring now necessary between crdinary flashers and transformers and at the same time dispensing with the ever present electrical disturbances and resultant annoyance created by these old combinations in neighboring susceptible circuits, such as radio and the sound reproducing circuits of motion picture lms.

In all figures of the drawing the corresponding parts are indicated with the same reference numerals. The primary winding is indicated at 1 and the associate secondary windings are shown at 2. The stationary primary winding 1 is shown wound on an insulating spool 3 which has a centrai hole 4 disposed axially therethrough and of suilicient diameter to freely accommodate an axially rotating laminated iron core 5, notwithstanding the square or rectangular cross-section of the latter.

The secondary coils 2 are wound on cores built' up of U-shaped laminations, as shown. Some of the cores 6, Figs. 3 and 4, are used without windings thereon, for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

With particular reference to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be noted that the core 5 rotates with two co-axial shafts 7 and rigidly fastened to said shafts by means of heavy U-shaped members 8. The respective parallel portions of these members are fastened against the top and bottom lamination of each core by means of rivets 10, as shown. The shafts 7 are thus maintained in rigid coaxial alignment and are rotatably mounted in the center of the two parallel circular end plates 11, which plates, in commotion with a plurality of strut posts 12 (Fig. 2) conveniently located, form a rigid framelike structure.

The cores 6, like the core 5, are fastened to the end plates 11 by similar U-shaped members 9, but instead of being rotatably mounted are adjustably secured between said plates, by means of screws 14. Said screws pass through the end plates in radially-elongated holes 15, thus permitting of ready adjustment of theair gaps 16 for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

Any means may be provided for moving a portion of the magnetic circuit, as primary core 5, and in the preferred form illustrated a motor M is provided for this purpose, being coupled to the shaft 7 through intermediate coupling means 17; In some uses of the device the mechanism 17 need only be a simple gear arrangement for coupling the motor to the shaft 7 so that the latter will I run at the desired speed. In still other applications of the device as, for example, in electric signs heretofore mentioned, it may be desirable l to impart a non-uniform or intermittent motion to the shaft 7 and in such instances the mechanism 17 may include any well-known arrangement for this purpose, such as a ratchet mechanism, a Geneva drive, an elliptical or similar noncircular gear arrangement, the well-known Hookes coupling, etc., or any other suitable device which has an intermittent or variable velocity ratio.

It will be readily observed, especially from Fig. 2, that during each revolution of the primary core 5 the latter comes into alignment with diametrically opposite secondary cores 6, as shown. If it is desired to have the rotating member remain in such positions of alignment for longer periods 4than in intermediate positions, it will readily occur to those skilled in the art how the mechanism 17, which may contain a ratchet drive for this purpose would accomplish this step-by-step motion. A further description of the particular mechanism 17, chosen for this purpose, is there- ,fore thought unnecessary.

The primary winding is held out of contact with the primary core and, therefore, against rotation, by any suitable means of support, such as strap members 18` (Fig. 2), which fit tightly around the periphery of the primary coil and are fastened at their extremities to two diametrically opposite strut posts 12, as shown.

Where intermittent rotation of the shaft 7 is required, it is desirable not to rotate the primary winding because the additional inertia which the latter would add to the rotating member would make rapid starting and stopping more difficult. However, where-it is desirable to make the primary winding fit tightly about its core and therefore rotate therewith I may employ slip-ring. with associate brushes for making contact to the primary winding during the rotation thereof, in an obvious manner.

As a practical example of an application of the invention, let it be assumed that diametrically opposite secondaries 2, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are connected in series as shown in Fig. 5 and that each of the thus connected pairs are respectively connected across three luminescent tubes or such as shown in my co-pending application above referred to. With a suitable source of alternating or varying current G applied to the primary winding 1 (as well as to the motor M) it is obvious that the secondaries 2 will be energized in rotative order, thereby illuminating the luminescent tubes in respective connection with the secondaries.

The above described application of the invention immediately suggests another important advantage of my invention. It is known in the operation of luminescent tubes referred to that it is highly desirable to operate all the tubes with the same luminosity. Since the characteristics of different tubes vary considerably, it is obvious that this variation may be compensated for in a very simple manner by varying the air gaps 16 in the manner heretofore described.

By connecting diametrically opposite secondaries 2 in. series as shown in Fig. 5 (or parallel, if desired) and with 6 such windings there will only be three main, or independently controllable, secondary circuits if the primary core is shaped as-shown in Figs. 1 and 2. To double this number of selectively operable windings the primary core 5 may have two of its pole faces cut away, as shown lat the dotted lines 19 giving a sectional view such as that of the primary of Fig. 3.

In Figs. 3 and 4 a modification of the improvement is shown. The essential difference in this form of construction lies in the provision of semi-circular pole pieces 20, built up of separate laminations and fastened on and in perpendicular relation to the main primary core 5. Thus the pole faces rotate in the same plane in which the laminations lie instead of perpendicular thereto, as in Figs. 1 and 2. The laminations 20 fit tightly over the main core 5, thereby keeping the individual sheets of the latter together.

In Fig. 4 there are shown 6 secondaries 2 the respective cores 6 of which form parallel magnetic circuits magnetized by the common primary winding 1. 'I'his modified form of construction may be used to produce what is known in the electric sign art as "spelling effects". In other words the succession of secondaries may be in respective connection -with a series of letters or words in such a manner as to illuminate the entire series in individual steps until, when the ferromagnetic circuit is in the position shown in Fig. 4, the entire word or sentence, as the case may be, is illuminated. At this point if it is desired that the entire sign thus formed by spelling shall remain illuminated for a period of time, the rotation of the shaft 7 (not shown in Fig. 3) may be made to cease, as heretofore described, during this period, following which it may be rapidly rotated to a position approximately 180 from that shown in Fig. 4 in which case it would be in readiness to repeat said spelling effect. A

With further reference to Fig. 4, a number of cores 6 may be seen on which there are no secondary windings. These cores, among other things, perform the following function: When the primary core and associate pole faces 20 are rotatively advanced to a position 180 of that shown were it not for the short-circuiting (considered ferro-magnetically, not electro-conductively) cores 6 referred to, the magnetic circuit of the primary winding would be practically open, the inductive reactance of said winding 1 would drop and the resultant current flowing through the primary would be excessive. However `with the arrangement shown this condition is never encountered because there is always a plurality of magnetic paths 6 to complete the ferro-magnetic circuit, regardless of the rotative position of the primary core. Since all of the cores 6 of Fig. 4 are radially adjustable, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the primary or secondary currents may be adjusted within wide limits for any position of the rotor. i

In some uses of the device, such as for sign ashers, it may be desirable to vary the gaps in the magnetic circuits for dierent rotative positions of the primary core, in order to produce a current in the secondaries that will cause a luminous device in connection therewith to flicker during its illuminated interval. In such cases the peripheries 21 of the pole faces 20 may be shaped to produce the `desired variation in the gaps, such as shown, by way of example, in Fig. 6. Thus the amount as well as the duration of current in the secondaries will be governed by the shape of the pole faces 20. y

It is obvious that the current applied to the primary coil by the source G need not be a pure sinuous alternating current, but may be of any varying wave form including a pulsating direct current and that the loads, indicated at r..Fig. 1, may be any desirable electrical devices, as the gas discharge tubes mentioned.

If the elements r, Fig. 1, are gaseous conduction lamps or where the improvement is used in conjunction with such lamps as heretofore mentioned with reference to my co-pending application No. 289,586, another new and much to be desired result is brought about as will be explained herewith.

'I'he secondary voltages of ordinary step-up transformers used to illuminate such lamps are relatively high, a common present day `value being in the neighborhood of 14,000 volts. These transformers are used with the primaries connected' to A. C. supply lines delivering energy at about 60 cyclesfor less. It not infrequently occurs that, although the secondary winding insulation may have been designed to withstand these comparatively high operating voltages, such transformers fail to operate due to breaking down of the layer insulation or other portions of the secondary windings.

Usually such failures occur with intense electrical surges, particuiarty surges caused by sudden changes in the primary line circuit as, for example, would accompany the slow opening of a switch. With these conditions encountered in practice, the disadvantage in applying ordinary electrical-contact sign flashers in the primary circuits of step-up transformers is at once manifest; for at each-make and break, particularly the latter, of a primary circuit the corresponding secondary voltage may rise to values far in excess to the normal potential which the transformer is designed to withstand. 'I'hus while a sign transformer may illuminate a gaseous con.- duction lamp continuously it may fail when operated intermittently by means of the conventional type of sign flasher, due to high frequency or high tension (usually both) surges caused with the almost continuous sparking or arcing at the flasher contacts. Such arcing, in cooperation with the inductive and capacitive characteristics of the associate circuits, tends to create oscillatory surges which often rise to undesirable values.

By noting the shape of the initially and ultimately active portions of the pole pieces 20, Fig. 4, as indicated by the curved portions forming the beginning and end respectively of the dotted line 21, it will be observed that with the pole pieces shaped as thus indicated, the make and break values of the energy induced in the respective secondary windings 2 can be positively adjusted to be any predetermined value. Indeed, these instantaneous values of voltage and current can not only be made equal to the normal operating values desired for the respective secondaries, but can be made lower than said normal values, if desired. 'Thus the detrimental surgings created by ordinary flashers is not encountered in the high voltage windings or associated circuits of my improvement.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a group of independent stationary secondary windings each having an individual core magnetically separated from the cores of the other windings in the group, the cores being disposed in an annular series; a stationary primary winding, a magnetic rotor adapted to be energized by said primary winding and including a core within said stationary winding and pole members adapted during rotation to inductively couple said primary winding with said cores of said independent windings, and means for rotating said rotor in variable timed relation to said individual cores.

2. In a device of the character described. the combination of a primary winding, a plurality of secondary windings disposed in annular series about said primary winding with their axesin parallel relation thereto, 'cores of said windings comprising a stationary portion for each secondary winding, and a common rotatable portion disposed within and rotatable axially of said primary winding, and having enlarged pole pieces adapted for magnetic registration with said stationary portions by the rotation of said rotatable portions, said enlarged pole pieces of said common rotatable portion having portions of its periphery variably spaced from said cores to vary the air gap therebetween.

3. InV a device of the character described, the combination of a primary winding, a plurality of secondary windings disposed in annular series about said primary winding with their axes in parallel relation thereto, cores for said windings comprising a stationary portion for each secondary Winding, and a common rotatable portion disposed within and rotatable axially of said primary winding, and having enlarged pieces adapted for magnetic registration with said stationary portions by the rotation of said rotatable portions, and means for adjusting the cores for said secondary windings individually with respect to the pole pieces of said rotatable portion.

4. The combination with a plurality of gaseous conduction lamps, of a transformer therefor comprising a constantly energized winding, a plurality of variably energizable secondary windings and an electromagnetic core structure for said windpole ings, including a movable portion for permutativeLy and variably coupling said primary with a plurality of secondary windings, and electrical circuit means connecting said secondary windings 5 with said gaseous conduction lamps for permutatively and variably aecting the luminosity of said lamps.

5. 'Ihe combination with gaseous conduction means, a transformer therefor having primary and secondary windings and a core for magnetically intercoupling said windings including a rotatable primary portion and a plurality of stationary secondary portions, said rotatable portion being shaped for variable permutative magnetic registration with the secondary portions during rotation thereof for variably energizing said portions, and electrical circuit means connecting said secondary windings with said gaseous conduction means. Y

6. A transformer, input and output circuits therefor, windings for said circuits, and a magnetic core structure for said windings. including a rotor and a stator for variably intercoupling said windings together during relative rotation thereof, and said rotor having a wavy periphery for additionally varying said intercouplingbetween said windings during rotation of said rotor.

'1. A transformer. input and outputv circuits therefor, connected electrically separate windings for said circuits, a core structure including a rotor and a stator with an air gap therebetween for variably intercoupling said windings together during relative rotation between rotor and stator, and additional means for varying said coupling comprising a wavy periphery on said rotor for additionally varying said air gap during said relative rotation.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with a plurality of positive column lumi- .4o nescent tubes, of electrical apparatus for variably energizing said tubes comprising a group of independent, stationary, secondary windings, each having an individual core magnetically separated from the cores of the other windings in the group, '45 the cores being disposed in an annular series; a stationary primary winding, a magnetic rotor adapted to be energized by said primary winding and including a core within said stationary winding, and including pole members adapted during 50 rotation to inductively couple said primary winding with said cores of said independent windings, and electrical circuit means connecting the lastnamed windings with said luminescent tubes.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a primary winding, a plurality of vsecondary windings disposed in annular series about said primary winding with their axes in parallel relation thereto. cores for said windings comprising a stationary portion for each secondary winding, and a common rotatable portion disposed within said primary winding and rotatable axially thereof and having pole pieces adapted for magnetic registration with said stationary portions by the rotation of said rotatable portion, said pole pieces of said common rotatable portion having portions of its periphery variably spaced from said stationary portions to vary the air gap therebetween.

10. Apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of gaseous conduction lamps operable for illumination and display purposes, means for variably energizing said lamps comprising a group of independent, stationary, secondary windings, each having an individual core magnetically separaied from the cores of the other windings in the group, the cores being disposed in an annular series; a primary winding having a magnetic rotor adapted to be energized thereby and including a core within said primary winding, said rotor including pole members adapted during rotation to inductively couple said primary winding with said cores of said independent windings, and electrical circuit means connecting the last-named windings with said gaseous conduction lamps.

11. In a transformer of the class described, the combination with a constantly energizable primary winding and a plurality of secondary windings, of a magnetic core structure for said windings comprising a plurality of stationary magnetic elements for said secondary windings disposed in' an annular arrangement, a rotatable magnetic element for said primary winding having a plurality of pairs of opposed magnetic poles, each of Said pairs of magnetic poles being disposed for magnetic registration with said stationary magnetic elements and spaced circumferentially with respect to the remaining pairs, said primary winding being common to said plurality of magnetically opposed poles of said rotatable magnetic element,

and additional stationary magnetic elements co- 'operating with said rotatable magnetic element to magnetize the latter substantially uniformly during different rotative positions of said rotatable element.

. IRVING NACHUMSOIDT. 

